Meghan Kasanders has already been hailed by听The New York Times听for her 鈥渁uthentically Wagnerian sound" and by听Opera News听for her "rich dramatic soprano, an instrument that displays power and sheen at all dynamic levels." You have the chance to see this rising star in action as Sieglinde in Virginia Opera鈥檚 production of Wagner's听The Valkyrie听at the Center for the Arts at George Mason 麻豆国产 on Oct. 8 and 9. Enjoy the conversation between Kasanders and听Center for the Arts intern Callie Cooper, who is completing a master鈥檚 degree in vocal performance herself, below.
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On singing听Sieglinde:听
I love how beautiful and lyrical her music is. When I鈥檓 singing听it,听I try to think of it as a Strauss aria, or Mozart aria. I just let the voice soar, and the music does听the听work.听
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On "Ride of the Valkyries":听
The most epic music you could ever think of! My family members are not opera goers, but the two pieces of music that they know are the 鈥淨ueen of the Night鈥 aria [from Mozart's The Magic Flute] and 鈥淩ide of the Valkyries.鈥 It鈥檚 so exciting to be in a show where that iconic music is being played.
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C: What听do听you think an opera newbie should听know听about The Valkyrie or the 鈥淩ing鈥 Cycle in general?听
M: I would suggest exploring Norse mythology in general. If you do some of that research, when you come you will enjoy the opera more. When Wagner writes, everything is story driven. He does most of the job. In those orchestral interludes, close your eyes and really take in the music. It is just incredible writing. It鈥檚 not very often that we get to hear Wagner on regional stages in the U.S., so just really take advantage of it.听
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C: What听is your favorite opera within the "Ring" Cycle?听
M:听Valkyrie. . . .听It鈥檚 been a show that has made me think outside of the box about story lines and the difference between the gods, warriors and humans. My story line is so weird [she laughs].听
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On debuting in a Wagnerian role:听
I鈥檝e听sung a lot of Wagner scenes and arias for years.听It鈥檚听been known for a while that this has been my destination. I am听very听excited听that this moment is here, I was听very excited听when I got the call.听I鈥檝e听been waiting,听waiting, waiting,听I鈥檓听finally getting the chance to sing this music now that my voice is ready for it,听I鈥檓听prepared for it.听听
A lot of my mentors told me it鈥檚 going to be听the听long game for you. I鈥檓 lucky that at 30 I鈥檓 starting down that road. The fact that this is my first opportunity to sing [this repertoire] is very exciting. I feel like Virginia is the perfect place to start this journey.听
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C: Any advice for young singers?听
M: I would say take your听time,听patience is key. Don鈥檛 focus so much on the future, be really in the moment and听working听with the voice that you have. And being present and always putting technique and musicality [allows the voice] to develop. I took the time to develop technique and musical choices, and now when I'm here and someone asks me to do the dream job that I鈥檝e always wanted, I can. I kind of thought maybe it wasn鈥檛 going to happen for another five to 10 years. But it鈥檚 because I put in so much work with my current voice, and then my natural voice just developed the way it鈥檚 supposed to. Really appreciating the journey that you鈥檙e on and focusing on you in the moment, not so much comparing yourself to others or thinking so far ahead in the future. You鈥檝e just got to hone in on what's in front of you. Just focus on you and where you are at.听
What can my voice do now, what feels good, and let me focus on that. Your voice will develop and you need to reevaluate every step of the way.听
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C: Have you worked with any of the singers in the cast?听
M: Trey and I were together. , I have seen听a number of听times and I have always just been in awe. I know听it's听just a听really good听group of people,听I鈥檓听excited to get to know everybody!听
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C: What is your dream role?听
M: Ariadne, that鈥檚 the dream! And听Chrysthamus听in Elektra, and maybe one day even Elektra. Wagner and Strauss operas are my favorite.听
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C: Anything else you want our audiences to know?听
M: Come enjoy, come for the 鈥淩ide of the Valkyries.鈥 Glorious music in this opera.听
The Valkyrie (Oct. 8 and 9) kicks off Virginia Opera鈥檚 four productions at the Center for the Arts this season. You can subscribe to all four operas (including Pirates of Penzance, Fellow Travelers, and La Traviata) to save 20%, or choose from three or more events across the Great Performances at Mason 2022/2023 season and save 15%.
Soprano Meghan Kasanders sings 鈥鈥澨from Wagner鈥檚 罢补苍苍丑盲耻蝉别谤 with the听Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Hofstetter.
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